030 - 12 Fret vs 14 Fret, What’s Best?

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Good morrow fellow #guitargeek and welcome to the day formerly known as "Just Tuesday," now celebrated and revered as Acoustic Tuesday.

Acoustic Tuesday presented by http://tonysacousticchallenge.com

5 items await you on the sacred #guitargeek scroll this week so let us halt the introductions and partake in a journey of discovery.

Our hyper hair follicled friend is back to shed wisdom on a question asked by one of our very own Acoustic Tuesday viewers. Matt Chulka, acoustic aficionado, beard maintenance master, and an overall awesome dude from Eddie's guitars in St. Louis shares his wisdom as he discusses the impact of a 12 fret neck to body joint and a 14 fret neck to body joint. If you have ever wondered what the deal with this is you have to tune into the episode to learn more; I think you will be surprised at how it affects more than just the aesthetic of the guitar.

So here's the situation: You have a pickup on your guitar, you aren't plugged in at the moment, and you enjoy playing with a strap around your guitar. Seems like a normal situation right? ...until the strap lets go of the input jack and nearly falls to the floor. Something that no guitarist ever wants to experience. Never fear Strap Jack is here to remedy this very scenario. Strap Jack is a device that locks your strap in on the input jack end and uses a rubber washer on the other to bring you peace of mind that your guitar is not going anywhere. Think of it like a strap lock specifically designed for guitars with a pickup. There is also a bonus use for it too... do you have a mixer or other piece of gear that you want to block inputs on? Strap Jack works like a charm. I also really appreciate that the cost is super low on these so you can get one for each guitar that has a pickup and just store them in the case for those "just in case" moments.  

https://strapjack.com/

http://amzn.to/2FDiQGY

Have you ever heard someone who's voice makes your head snap back, ears perk up, and every hair on the back of your neck stand up? The person I am listening to this week does that very thing to me... 

Tyler Childers is someone who was introduced to me via Colter Wall's latest album (He happens to sing on the song Fraulein). In addition to being the guest vocal on that album, many Acoustic Tuesday viewers told me about him so I had to do the full deep dive and I am so happy I did. Tyler has a knack for writing wonderfully descriptive songs and his voice delivers them in such a way that leaves you wanting more and more. His voice seems to be a cross between classic country and traditional bluegrass, but I can't say he sounds like anyone except, well... Tyler Childers. The standout tune for me is Purgatory off of his newest album of the same name as well as the tune that closes the album, entitled, Lady May. If you dig heartfelt delivery with a voice that has a bit of twang you will not be disappointed with Tyler's newest album... or his older one for that matter. 

https://youtu.be/KMn5sLegqo4 - Keep Your Nose on the Grindstone

https://youtu.be/EeDTKH9AU3U - Purgatory 

https://youtu.be/oOIJecsnaWg - White House Road

http://amzn.to/2GqixAc - Purgatory Album

http://amzn.to/2FRNiAs - Bottles and Bibles Album

What happens when you gather 7 luthiers and inspire them with 7 significant artists from their locale. You end up getting 7 (actually 8) guitars that are chocked full of inspiration... this is what the Group of Seven Guitar Project is based on. This project includes Canadian luthiers: Grit Laskin, Linda Manzer, Sergei de Jonge, Jean Larrivee, Tony Duggan-Smith, George Gray, and David Wren. Each luthier was commissioned to build a guitar inspired by one artist from the Group of Seven (the Group of Seven refers to 1920's Canadian landscape artists Lawren Harris, J.E.H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Franklin Carmichael, Frank Johnston, F.H. Varley, and A.Y. Jackson) The results were absolutely amazing, inspiring, and jaw-droppingly beautiful, and you can see them in the documentary dedicated to these guitars and their making. You will get a peek at the guitars and each individual luthier's thought process behind their design. Truly fascinating stuff for any #guitargeek. 

https://youtu.be/LZD_3rovSu4 - Grit Laskin

https://youtu.be/bCSkSs-tTks - Linda Manzer

https://youtu.be/GMtsWoGBtiA - Sergei de Jonge

https://www.larrivee.com/shop/group-of-seven-guitar-project-dvd-a-celebration-of-art-and-music

This week we get to gawk at some awesome guitarsenals from our very own #guitargeek ranks. Make sure to watch the full episode to see some really outstanding guitars, smiles, family members, and even some furry friends. This week there is a vintage Gibson, some stellar small bench luthier made guitars, some eyebrow-raising oddballs, and even Marty Mcfly... yes, Marty Mcfly... You'll have to watch the show to find out about that one. 

May your ears encounter wonderful music and sweet melodies as the page turn on another episode of Acoustic Tuesday. 

Don't forget to subscribe to the Acoustic Life youtube channel and be absolutely certain to share this show with your guitar geek friends!!!

Guitar Geeks unite!

Cheers,
Tony